The Carisbrook Conversation events have been a genuine space for Council and the community to work together to benefit the broader community. During the Conversations we have focussed on important initiatives for Carisbrook. These have included:
• Carisbrook Township Community Plan
• Carisbrook Recreation Reserve
• Carisbrook Town Hall
• Draft Tullaroop Creek Management Plan
• Stage 4 of the Carisbrook Levee
In my view the success of the Conversations has been due to five key factors:
• Identification of key issues which are important to the Carisbrook community
• An authoritative informed brief summarising key developments and issues on particular topics
• Adequate time for engaged discussion to work through these matters
• Expert facilitation to ensure balanced input into each Conversation
• Clear summary of outcomes and suggested actions
At last week's meeting, the importance of clear actions was stressed. Everyone wants to avoid attending community meetings without clear outcomes to be taken forward into implementation. I'm excited to work with Council to progress key priorities arising from the Conversations including the establishment of a governance structure for Carisbrook Town Hall and a stakeholder action plan for the ongoing management of Tullaroop Creek.
I wish Cr De Villiers well as she takes over the ownership of the Carisbrook Conversations as her quarterly Ward Councillor meetings. It's no secret that Cr De Villiers is passionate about community participation and leadership and I'm thrilled that the Conversations will be a place for ongoing engagement with the people of Carisbrook and their elected representative.
